Nursing Articles Archive

Intravenous (translates to within vein) therapy or IV therapy is the medical procedure of infusing liquid substances like specialty pharmaceuticals directly into a vein. It is also called as a drip because of the use of a drip chamber, which avoid air from entering the blood stream to allow regulating flow rate. Intravenous therapy is used for rectifying electrolyte imbalances, to provide an access for medications, to administer blood products (blood transfusion) or replace fluids, for dehydration as well as for treatment such as chemotherapy.

Loss of consciousness or “blackouts” is an unprompted state of loss of perception triggered by various causes like cardiovascular disorders, (e.g. cardiac arrhythmias), neurological conditions (e.g. epilepsy) and others. A nursing care plan for loss of consciousness is critical for proper care which if not administered could lead to death or comatose. Nursing care plan included guideline for initial assessment, diagnosis and specialist referral for proper care.

Immigration and Work Permits Australia is currently experiencing a serious shortage of Registered Nurses in all fields. British and Irish Nurses are in a perfect position to fill this shortage as their qualifications allow registration by Australian Nursing Boards without further exams. Australia has a relaxed lifestyle and Nurses are well paid. There is also a great diversity of climates from tropical to alpine meaning that your off duty time can be fun and exciting. The country has enormous potential and can afford a great lifestyle for all applicants from single professionals as well as those with families. Registering as a Nurse in Australia is key to gaining residency and the right to work there. Each State of Australia has its own Nursing Registration Board. As in the UK you cannot work as a qualified Nurse without first registering with one of the State Nursing Registration Boards. Using professional immigration specialists can dramatically reduce the time it takes to complete the registration process. Registration in Australia is also recognised in New Zealand opening up further opportunities. Following successful registration Nurses have two choices. They can either apply for a work permit or residency. Work Permit Visa Work permits are more straightforward than residency visas, but provide more restrictive opportunities. A work permit restricts the Nurse to working for a single employer. To change employers the Nurse has to apply to the Department of Immigration. * A work permit will allow the Nurse to work in Australia for up to 4 years * After two years the employer can sponsor the Nurse for residency * It is possible to organise a work permit whilst still in the UK so that the Nurse has work when she arrives in Australia. A number of Nursing Agencies will accept UK Nurses without further experience after registration * At any stage the Nurse can apply to convert the work permit visa to a permanent residency visa (this usually requires the help of an immigration specialist) Residency Visa Nurses can get a residency visa without getting a work permit. This gives the flexibility and benefit of being able to change employers without having to inform the Department of Immigration. It is possible to apply for Nurses to use their qualifications to apply for a residency visa and then seek a job in a related or completely different field of work. * Residency visa applications can include the whole family * All resident members of the family are entitled to a Medicare card and welfare benefits if required * Residents are free to leave and return to Australia at any stage and keep hold of their UK passport Acquiring registration, work permit visas or residency visas can be time consuming, frustrating and ultimately expensive. Using a professional immigration service to smooth the way gives you one less thing to worry about. They can help you sort out the paperwork and red tape to ensure your application has the best chance of success. The AMC is currently able to offer a fixed fee service of £650 per application including all family members. Dinko Donjerkovich Australian Migration Consultancy (AMC) www.australianmigrationconsultancy.com.au Please email Dinko for more information on how the AMC can help you succeed enquiries@australianmigrationconsultancy.com.au The Australian Migration Consultancy has provided a successful Immigration Service for Nurses entering Australia for the last twelve years. All the nurses that have been successfully assisted with their Visa applications are still living and working in Australia.

Nursing has become an in demand profession abroad for Filipinos. This is because rich foreign countries like U.S., Canada, Japan, Norway and Austria are in need of nurses caused by steep population growth resulting in a growing need for health care services; a diminishing pipeline of new students in nursing; an aging nursing workforce; and the lack of interest among youths to take up nursing because of the difficult and risky working conditions. In the United States alone, the demand for nurses is estimated at 600,000 between now and 2020. Filipino nurses prefer to work abroad because of its high pay. Low salary, and political instability are also some frequent reasons cited by Filipino nurses trying their luck abroad. Due to the increasing demand of nurses abroad, many Filipinos who seek this opportunity prefer to study nursing here in the Philippines then, afterwards, work as nurse abroad. Some Doctors also study to become nurses just to leave the country and work abroad. On the other hand, People in business community also see this as an opportunity to establish nursing schools due also to the increasing number of students who want to earn a degree in nursing. That is why so many nursing schools are sprouting like mushrooms nowadays without a guarantee that they can give a good standard of nursing education. In June 2005 record of Professional Regulation Commission, 26,000 graduates of nursing took the licensure exam but 12,843 or only 50% of then passed. The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) tries to regulate the newly established nursing schools to ensure that they met the minimum quality and standards of nursing education. In line with this, CHED, together with the Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC) released, on April 2005, a statistics of top performing nursing schools in the Philippines based on the Board Exam passing rates for 2000-2004. Out of 175 Nursing schools, only 12 had a passing rates of 90% or higher. Below is the rank and passing rates of the 12 top performing nursing schools; 1 UP-Manila 100% 2 St. Paul College-Iloilo 99.57% 3 Silliman University – Dumaguete City 98.39 4 West Visayas State University 97.06% 5 University of Santo Tomas Manila 96.67% 6 Saint Louis University – Baguio City 95.05 7 Mindanao State University Marawi City 95.0% 8 St. Paul College-Dumaguete City 93.38 9 Pamantasan ng Lunsod ng Maynila 92.53% 10 SAINT MARY’S UNIVERSITY – Bayombong 91.02% 11 St. Paul College-Manila 90.81% 12 University of the East-Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Center 90.57% This statistics simply means that many nursing schools does not guarantee a good quality of nursing education such that their students failed to pass the board exams. So, if you want to pursue a nursing degree, study first the quality of the standard of education of the nursing school that you want to enroll with. Nursing profession can give you a lot of money from abroad but it’s too expensive to finish a nursing degree. Why waste a lot of money if you will just failed to acquire a professional license after your graduation. References: nurseimmigrationusa.com/Downloads/CoreFiles/ Filipino_nurses_becoming_more_in_demand.htm pcij.org/stories/2005/nursing-schools-performance2.pdf pcij.org/stories/2005/nursing-schools-performance1.pdf For more information about nursing profession regulation in the Philippines, visit the PRC website at; http://www.prc.gov.ph/portal.asp?pid=63 — Article from http://www.pinoysites.org/jcm/item/5/

A hernia is the projection or outcropping of an organ or the fatty tissue of an organ through a weak spot the wall of the cavity that contains it. There are different kinds of hernia such as inguinal (inner groin), incisional (resulting from an incision), femoral (outer groin), umbilical (belly button), and hiatal (upper stomach), each requiring a specific management or treatment. An inguinal hernia is the protrusion of intestine through the abdominal wall. An incisional hernia is the protrusion of intestine through the abdominal wall at the site of previous abdominal surgery which is common to obese people. A femoral hernia is the protrusion of intestine in the femoral artery into the upper thigh common among women. Finally, an umbilical hernia is the protrusion of small intestine passes through the abdominal wall near the navel common among women with many children.

The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) said yesterday that 28,924 out of 67,728 examinees passed the nursing licensure examination given by the Board of Nursing last December. The examinees included retakers in the June 2006 leakage-tainted nursing licensure examination as well as first-timers and repeaters. A student from the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) topped the examination, with a rating of 88.40 percent. PRC chief Leonor Rosero said 43.3 percent of nursing graduates passed the test. PRC Nursing Board member Bon Marco Sto. Tomas said 10 of the 14 nursing graduates who retook the test on the directive of the Court of Appeals also passed the board. Those who topped the exam were Zandra Mae Zabaza Bongco of PLM, with a rating of 88.40 percent; Robneil Dylan Sanchez Dellosa, University of Perpetual Help Rizal-Calamba, 87 percent; Joanna Kaye Binoya Remolar, San Pedro College-Davao City, 86.80 percent; Denise Claudia Dimatulac Mangilman, University of Makati, 86.40; Neil Nino Sugitarios Navarra, San Pedro College-Davao City, 86.40; Pedro Posadas Tabernero, Saint Dominic Savio College, 86.40; Joann Aguiklar Candado, West Negros College, 86.20; Betty Chua Chung, University of Makati, 86.20; Leslie Yap Coo, Central Philippine University, 86.20; Katrina Victoria Luceno Akut, Xavier University, 86; John Edward Vergil Villaflor, Trinity University of Asia (Trinity-QC), 86; Richard Baguio Saavedra, Ateneo Davao University, 86; Rosemarie Lu Go, Western Mindanao State University, 85.80; January Ivy Bacali Haspela, Central Philippine University, 85.80; Cristine Valen Mendez, Davao Doctors College, 85.80; Julius Atalip Riazondra, Saint Paul University-Tuguegarao, 85.80; Joreena Perida Alvaran, Remedios T. Romualdez Medical Foundation, 85.60; Emlyn Limbo Escobar, University of La Sallete-Santiago, 85. 60; Hernessa Torralba Hernandez, Xavier University, 85.60; Gerrie Mae Lozada Angostura, University of Iloilo, 85.40; Sheryl Gae Uy Cu, De Los Santos College, 85.40; Ayn Portia de Luna Galamgam, San Pedro College-Davao City, 85.40; Germaine Lou Tabita Sanchez, University of San Agustin, 85.40; Marie Kathleen Cavida Santos, Perpetual Help College of Manila, 85.40; Mary Lenin Pepito Talisic, San Pedro College-Davao City, 85.40; Jay Pong Yap, Capitol University Cagayan Capitol College, 85.40; Vivian Esparaz Yu, De Los Santos College, 85.40; Katriba Socorro Lapuz Cembrano, University of San Agustin, 85.20; Diana Jean Bernardo Mendoza, Dr. Carlos Lanting College-Q.C., 85.20; Jeggar Chris Envoltorio Sorianosos, West Visayas State University-La Paz, 85.20; and Aura Ydda Santiago Toreja, Our Lady of Fatima University-Valenzuela, 85.20. Sto. Tomas said 729 of the 1,132 who voluntarily took the examination so they could comply with the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing School (CGNFS) requirement passed the test. The nurses can now secure a special certification from the PRC and apply for work in the United States. CGNFS warning Last year, the CGNFS warned that the United States would not accept the application of nurses who passed the June 2006 leakage-tainted board examination until they take the compromised part of the test again. In compliance with the CGNFS requirement, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) ordered a voluntary retest for the June 2006 board passers. Sto. Tomas said the passing rate last December was way below the recorded passing rate of those who took the licensure examination in June 2007. Of the more than 64,000 nursing graduates who took the board in June 2007, almost half or 48 percent passed. The successful examinees included over 9,000 June 2007 retakers. The PRC said the top performing schools with more than 100 examinees were St. Louis University, Xavier University and Silliman University, while those with less than 100 examinees were Trinity University of Asia, Mindanao State University and Palawan State University. Meanwhile, the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) junked the illegal dismissal and underpayment charges filed by 31 Filipino nurses against a New York-based health care facility and a local recruitment agency. In a 17-page decision, NLRC Executive Labor Arbiter Fatima Jambaro-Franco ruled that the complainants violated the employment contracts when they resigned from their jobs in the United States. Franco said the complainants failed to comply with the required notice to their employers when they submitted their resignation letters. He explained that under the contract, at least two weeks’ notice of intent to resign is required and under the Labor Code of the Philippines, at least one month’s notice is required. “Either of the required notification was not observed by the 31 nurses, thus constituting a clear violation of the Labor Code,” he said. The NLRC decision is the third consecutive case lost by the nurses against Sentosa Recruitment Agency in the Philippines. In June 2006, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) lifted the suspension order against Sentosa, while the US Supreme Court denied the complaints of the Filipino nurses. — By Mayen Jaymalin http://www.newsflash.org/2004/02/hl/hl107118.htm

Immigrant Visa Options For Nurses by Gregory Siskind www.ilw.com The immigrant visa is normally the only option for nurses because most of the non-immigrant visa classifications are not available to the typical registered nurse seeking employment in the United States. What are the basic requirements for a worker to qualify for a green card? Employment-based immigrant visas typically involve three main steps. First, the employer files a Labor Certification application with the U.S. Department of Labor. The purpose of the application is to test the employer’s local labor market for available workers. If no qualified and available workers are located, the position is certified as open for a foreign worker. Second, the employer files an I-140 Alien Worker Petition with the USCIS. The purpose of this petition is to verify that the foreign worker has the minimum requirements to fill the open position, and serves to classify the foreign person as eligible for a particular visa category. Third, on the basis of the Labor Certification and Alien Worker Petition, the foreign worker makes an application for an immigrant visa at a U.S. Consulate. If the foreign worker is legally present in the U.S., he or she may instead apply for permanent resident status via a process called adjustment of status. A nurse in the US can simultaneously apply for the I-140 and for adjustment of status. The entire process can take several years. Labor certifications can take anywhere from six months to three years depending on where in the country the application is filed. The I-140 can take anywhere from a month to a year. And another year to two years can be added for consular processing or adjustment of status. As explained below, however, nurses receive processing that is partially expedited. Do nurses receive any sort of special treatment in green card processing that makes the green card application process faster or easier? Yes, nurses seeking green cards do operate under an easier system and get their green cards faster than their counterparts in other professions. Nurses do fit into a green card category with a limited quota. During early 2005, the category for nationals of the Philippines, India and China was backlogged by several years and many nurses have been affected. Congress has just signed a bill that will make 50,000 extra green cards available to nurses so processing should soon return to normal. As noted above, most employment immigration cases require the employer to first recruit and test the labor market for qualified citizens or permanent residents. After this test is complete, the Department of Labor will certify that no qualified, American worker is immediately available to fill the position. Only then will the employer be able to sponsor a foreign worker. While these labor certifications are often successful, they can be time intensive and do not reflect the immediate needs of the business world. In 1996, Congress passed legislation that retained nurses on a very short list of pre-certified occupations for which a labor shortage was recognized. The list is included in Schedule A of the labor certification regulations and these types of green card cases are called “Schedule A labor certifications”. The Department of Labor (DOL) has already determined that there are not enough American workers who are able, willing, qualified, and available to fill all of the openings for professional nurses. Therefore, no test of the labor market is required and the case can be directly filed with the USCIS. This does not necessarily mean that all cases are approvable or will be handled quickly. The importance of nursing being pre-certified is that it skips the first and most time consuming part of the employment based immigration process. Note that this pre-certification is limited in scope. It only applies to “professional nurses”. Schedule A is not available to Licensed Practical Nurses, Nurse Assistants, or other nursing aides. Professional Nursing is defined as a course of study in professional nursing resulting in a diploma, certificate, baccalaureate degree, or associate degree. More specifically, an acceptable course of study for professional nurses generally includes theory and practice in clinical areas such as obstetrics, surgery, pediatrics, psychiatry, and medicine. Whatever training the nurse has received should result in licensure in the country in which the training occurred. This coursework may have been completed at a U.S. nursing school or an approved foreign nursing program. For an immigrant visa, it is not required that a nurse have a bachelor’s degree in nursing, only that he or she completed a professional program in nursing and have subsequently been licensed. What is the first step in filing for a green card for a nurse? The initial step in a Schedule A case is to file a Form I-140 application package to the appropriate supporting documentation to the appropriate USCIS service center. There are four regional USCIS service centers. They are located in Vermont, Texas, Nebraska, and California and each service center has jurisdiction over a section of the country. A case is properly filed in the service center having jurisdiction over the place of employment or in the service center covering the region where the employer’s office is located. When there is a choice of service centers, employers need to be cautious because the processing times can vary dramatically. This may account for varying experiences in the HR industry as to how long it is taking to obtain the approval necessary before the nurse can apply for consular processing or adjustment of status. For example, beginning in 2003, the Vermont Service Center began expediting cases for nurses. Processing at the VSC is down to less than two months in most nurse cases. However, the other service centers can take as long as a year for the same kind of petition. What kind of documentation must be submitted with an I-140 employment-based immigrant petition? Supporting documentation must be submitted with the I-140 as prescribed in 20 C.F.R. 656.22(c)(2). This supporting evidence includes the following: 1. Completed PERM labor certification forms (the recruiting process under PERM need not, however, be completed); 2. A posted notice of the job opening. This notice must include a job description, work hours, and rate of pay. The notice must be posted in the worksite for a minimum of ten business days; 3. Evidence that the petitioning employer has the financial ability to pay the salary offered to the nurse. Evidence of this ability shall be either in the form of copies of annual reports, federal tax returns, or audited financial statements. If the U.S. employer employs 100 or more workers, the USCIS may accept a statement from a financial officer of the organization; 4. CGFNS certificate or nurse license from state where the nurse will be working or proof of passing the NCLEX licensing exam and evidence that the nurse cannot obtain a license because he or she cannot obtain a social security number; 5. Nursing diploma or degree; 6. Nursing registration/licensure from the country where the degree was obtained. The CGFNS certificate provides evidence that the nurse has complied with a three step review of their nursing skills: 1. a credentials evaluation; 2. passage of an English language proficiency exam; and 3. passage of the CGFNS qualifying exam. Once these requisites have been met, the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools will issue the nurse a CGFNS certificate. The purpose of this certification program is to serve as a predictive evaluation process to accurately judge which nurses will be able to meet the requirements for U.S. licensure once admitted to the country. If the nurse has already passed the NCLEX-RN exam, they are exempted from the requirement of obtaining a CGFNS certificate. When does the health care workers credentialing certificate (the “VisaScreen”) come into the picture? The VisaScreen certificate must be presented to the USCIS prior to adjustment of status and a US consulate prior to issuance of a permanent residency visa. The certificate is NOT required at the start of adjustment application or prior to an I-140 application’s approval. What steps are required aside from submitting the I-140 and getting the VisaScreen certificate? Upon approval of the I-140 and receipt of the VisaScreen certificate, a nurse is eligible to obtain their immigrant visa through consular processing. If they are in the United States in a lawful status they may adjust their status to that of permanent resident. Adjustment of status applications can be submitted at the same time as an I-140 application or at any time after the I-140 is submitted or approved. See the discussion below for more information on adjustment of status. Nurses are also required to adhere to licensing requirements of the state in which they intend to work. Licensing requirements for registered nurses are maintained on a state-by-state basis, and each state has slightly different requirements for licensing. To demonstrate eligibility and preparedness for the NCLEX exam, most states require a combination of materials be submitted with the license application. The documents may include CGFNS certification, copies of foreign academic credentials with certified translations, an education/credentials evaluation and a demonstration of proficiency in English (e.g. TOEFL exam results). All states permit an individual to obtain a license through examination, and some state permit licensing by endorsement, or acceptance of a registered nurse license from another state or country as evidence of the person’s credentials. Consult the license chart included as an appendix to this handbook for more information on requirements in each of the states. How does a nurse in the US adjust status? If a nurse is in the United States, then processing via adjustment of status will typically be easier and it will be possible to get authorization to work much more quickly than through consular processing. A nurse’s employer must file an I-140 for a nurse in the United States just like a nurse residing abroad. But a nurse in the US has the ability to take the NCLEX examination. If the nurse can pass the NCLEX exam, then it is not necessary to take the CGFNS examination. Otherwise, the nurse would still need to present a CGFNS certificate or proof that the nurse has a full and unrestricted license as an RN. A nurse can file an adjustment of status application as well as an application for an employment authorization document at the same time they submit the I-140 application. Once the nurse is licensed by a state and the nurse is in possession of an employment authorization document, the nurse can begin work. License processing times vary between the states. USCIS regional service centers are required to process employment authorization documents in less than 90 days (applicants have the right to request an interim employment document at a local USCIS office if 90 days pass after applying). Adjustment applications typically take 18 to 24 months at USCIS regional service centers. A nurse still needs to present a VisaScreen Certificate prior to completing adjustment of status. Conclusion The immigration process may seem somewhat like a maze. However, with proper guidance and some practical experience, it should not discourage a potential employer from pursuing prospective employees. Those who have been successful in obtaining international employees often find them to be very dedicated staff members. Given the current labor crisis in the healthcare industry, the international labor market should not be discounted. About The Author Gregory Siskind is a partner in Siskind Susser’s Memphis, Tennessee, office. After graduating magna cum laude from Vanderbilt University, he received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Chicago. Mr. Siskind is a member of AILA, a board member of the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, and a member of the ABA, where he serves on the LPM Publishing Board as Marketing Vice Chairman. He is the author of several books, including the J Visa Guidebook and The Lawyer’s Guide to Marketing on the Internet. Mr. Siskind practices all areas of immigration law, specializing in immigration matters of the health care and technology industries. He can be reached by email at gsiskind@visalaw.com.

Leptospirosis is a quite a rare bacterial infection caused by a strain of Leptospira transmitted from animals to humans through wounds in the skin or contact with water contaminated with urine of animals like rats, skunks, opossums, foxes and racoons. Lately, because of the prevalence of floods in urban city, Leptospirosis had become a common bacterial infection among people in cities because some people have the habit of swimming or unavoidably need to walk through floods which are potentially contaminated with the urine of rats.

The Philippine government is short of issuing a global advisory to Filipinos, most especially Filipino nurses and other healthworkers, to avoid travel to countries with swine flu cases to prevent the further spread of the virus in the Philippines and other parts of the globe. However, the migration to other countries and coming back for vacation continues everyday. The government has advised to temporarily avoid unnecessary travel more particularly to the United States and Mexico. As of this time, no reported Filipino nationals have been infected with the virus anywhere in the world. However, the Philippine government is still concerned with the possible spread of the virus that could infect thousands of Filipino nurses working abroad. Among the precautionary measures included in the advisory are to avoid congested areas, to regularly wash hands, consultation with a general practitioner when possible symptoms of the virus starts like coughs, sore throat, headaches and muscle pain. Source: http://www.filipinonursesnews.com/filipino-nurses-abroad-are-exposed-to-swine-flu-h1n1-virus/

Symbios is a part of the BioVitale Holistic Center that serves as an urban landscape where people can mediate, connect with nature, purify their minds, relieve themselves from stress, freshen their spirits and invigorate their spirits. Symbios is on top of a mountain whose exact location is kept secret to maintain the sanctity and purity of the place. It is approximately a 20 minute drive from Quezon City. The sanctuary has meditative gardens, clear water streams, mini waterfalls and fresh water lagoon where meditators can stay, swim, take a bath and commune with nature.

By: Amanda Bog Another of the high-potential nursing designations is the Registered Nurse, or RN. RNs are in high demand all over the world and in a broad range of specialties, making it a career with incredible employment opportunity and security. To be qualified for practice as a Registered Nurse in the United States, applicants must have been graduated from an approved nursing program and pass the NCLEX-RN, a national licensing examination. License renewal is required periodically, which may involve additional education and testing according to regulations in some states. Registered Nurses are qualified for a variety of positions in nearly every segment of the health care industry. Duties assigned to Registered Nurses vary widely throughout health care services, according to the hundreds of available specialties from which they can choose. However, there are some basic duties that are similar regardless of specialty. Among these are treating patients and educating them and the public about a variety of medical conditions and diseases, recording symptoms and medical histories, operating medical machinery, administering medications and treatments, assisting with diagnostic testing, and analyzing test results. Registered Nurses also educate patients and their families on how to manage illness and injury at home, preparing them for hospital discharge, including such items as teaching self-administration of required medications or physical therapy, and specialized diet counseling. Training to become a Registered Nurse can be accomplished with any one of three educational options: (1) a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing (BSN); (2) an associate degree in nursing (ADN); or (3) with a diploma from a qualified nursing school program. Nursing schools that offer a Bachelor’s degree upon graduation are generally four-year programs, while an Associate degree or Diploma program can range in length from two to three years. Registered Nurses that are awarded a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree will have the broadest range of career choices, meeting the required skill level for more procedures and specialties. Regardless of the educational path chosen, all Registered Nurses must pass the national examination before being officially licensed to practice. Registered Nurses can hold licenses in several states, either by endorsement of a license issued in another state or by examination. The demand for Registered Nurses in nearly every segment of the medical profession is growing every day. As more advanced technologies and procedures have been introduced into the routine care of patients, the need for such skilled professionals has been rising steadily. A graduate of a Registered Nursing degree program is sure to find employment in their preferred specialty, as the employment opportunities across the medical industry far outnumber the qualified applicants available to fill them, ensuring a secure and fulfilling career for years to come. Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com

If you’re interested in the Nursing profession, you might be aware that there is more than one type of nurse and designation. One is the Licensed Practical Nurse, or LPN. Training to become an LPN is a one year program in most instances, involving classroom education and supervised clinical practice. Training must be acquired at a state-approved school, and graduates must pass a licensing examination, the NCLEX-PIN, to become qualified to practice. LPNs are qualified to perform a range of services in hospitals, doctor’s offices, skilled nursing home facilities, and in a number of other healthcare settings. The duties of a Licensed Practical Nurse are performed under the supervision of a Registered Nurse (RN), and encompass a variety of patient bedside care tasks, such as checking vital signs, preparing and administering injections and enemas, applying bandages and dressings, monitoring catheters, and treating pressure sores. In some states, Licensed Practical Nurses are allowed to administer medications prescribed by a physician and to start intravenous fluids. Collecting samples and performing routine laboratory tests are also among the duties of an LPN, as are monitoring and recording patient food and fluid intake. In a nursing home setting, experienced Licensed Practical Nurses can be responsible for supervising care given by Nursing Assistants, and aid in developing resident care plans. There is a demand for Licensed Practical Nurses in a variety of settings throughout the healthcare industry. Demand for LPNs in hospital settings has declined in recent years, but has increased in many other segments of the health care industry. Among the fastest growing areas is the home health care field, due to an increase in older patients with disabling conditions that choose to be treated at home, and advanced technology that makes home care more feasible, even for more complex medical conditions. Nursing homes are next in line as far as job growth for Licensed Practical Nurses, due to a growing number of elderly and disabled persons requiring long-term care. Nursing home facilities are also seeing a significant increase in rehabilitation patients, released from the hospital before they are able to function sufficiently for self-care – another area in which LPNs are used. Licensed Practical Nursing can be a very rewarding choice for many, as well as the fast track to job security in a profession that is increasingly in demand. Nursing care is required worldwide, ensuring that the nursing professional can practice in nearly any location of their choice. With the broad range of settings and specializations to choose from, Licensed Practical Nurses can easily find their perfect health care niche, ensuring long-term career growth and satisfaction. By: Amanda Bog Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com About the Author: http://www.accessnurses.com/travel-nursing/ http://www.healthcarework.info/employment.htm http://www.eou.edu/career/majors/Nursing.htm

Have you ever wondered why there is so much colon cancer around today? A hundred years ago it was almost unheard of; it was rare, so why not look at what has changed over those hundred years that is causing the problem. There are many useful changes one can make and they are removing the known causes and with the amazing self-healing powers of our immune system, which we were born with and are with us throughout life, the body can heal and can become cancer free. All cancers including colon cancer have 4 main causes and they are our wrong food choices, the toxic chemicals we encounter everyday, our sedentary lifestyle or our lack of exercise and lastly emotional stress or not letting go of a problem we may have. Let”??s look at each one of these. The natural foods for the human body are freshly grown fruit and vegetables, whole grains and nuts. Our diets have changed vastly over the last hundred years and now days we eat mainly processed foods, including lots of meat and dairy products. All processed foods are nutritionally dead food because they are old and there is proof to that. Also most of them contain a high proportion of fat, salt or refined sugar and all those items are known contributors to all cancers. Most importantly, there is a direct relationship between colon cancer and the consumption of meat because of its lack of fibre, another fact that is well known. Also cooking meat over a high temperature produces a carcinogenic substance called heterocyclic amines”?? or HCAs. Cooking on barbeques or hot frypans are examples of that. The chemicals we use everyday that are mostly from the petro-chemicals industry are all affecting our immune system. Probably the worst ones are the personal care products that we apply directly to our skin and because of its porous nature, are absorbed into our bloodstream. Not all chemicals are checked for toxicity and those that are checked, are only checked for short term effects like skin allergies, not long term problems like cancer. Thanks to the ubiquitous motor car and other labour saving devices we don”??t get the exercise we use to. The television set is also partly responsible as it forms a big part of our entertainment today. Exercise is very important because our built in repair system which is the immune system which everybody has, needs muscular activity for it to function properly. Lastly stress can have a major impact on the human body which can bring on any cancers, not just colon cancer. My suggestion is to seek professional help if you have had a major trauma like the loss of a loved one or a personal or business crisis. Colon cancer does not have a single cause but many contributing factors. That”??s why not all big meat eaters get colon cancer. By identifying and removing many of the causes the human body can heal itself naturally and permanently. You can only make an informed decision on your treatment if you have the information on the subject to make those decisions. The more you choose to get involved, the greater a difference you will make to the outcome of your disease. Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com About the Author: Alan Wighton is an independent health researcher, having spent many years specialising in cancer. For information on more effective ways to permanently cure colon cancer so it won”‘t come back or spread; please visit Cancer Facts & Information.

NICU Nurse Training or neonatal intensive care unit training is a type of nursing training that specializes in nursing newly born infants undergoing neonatal intensive care, which is often given to premature infants and other babies who are unstable because of certain circumstances or diseases such as perinatal asphyxia, major birth defects, sepsis, neonatal jaundice, and Infant respiratory distress syndrome due to immaturity of the lungs, which entail intensive care and continuous monitoring in NICU facility.

If you are a nurse who enjoys traveling, you may want to consider a travel nursing position. Many travel nurse placement agencies offer positions that range anywhere from four to thirteen weeks depending on the case. This type of position offers the opportunity to expand your horizons while obtaining more experience in your chosen field. In terms of compensation, the traveling nurses tends to make anywhere between 10-15% more than the staff nurse with incentives and bonuses added to the package. For many nurses, being a travel nurse opens the opportunity to see parts of the country they would not ordinarily see in the course of normal employment. If you aren’t able to travel because of children or financial obligations, you can still experience the thrill of being a travel nurse by accepting assignments closer to home. Of course, when you are able to do so, you can ask for assignments in other cities or states. That is one of the benefits of being a travel nurse with a placement agency: it leaves you in control of which assignments you accept. Unlike a staff position, you are not required to report to work every day as per a set schedule unless you are on an assignment. When you are in between assignments, the choice is yours to accept or decline, and often times with a travel nurse, bonuses are paid to those who complete assignments. Are the assignments always in hospitals or nursing homes? That depends on the assignment, but the potential is also there for private duty. Some nurses prefer private duty cases, and in many cases, the pay is higher than it is in a facility-based assignment. Let the placement agency know if you prefer a particular kind of environment because they will try to accommodate you whenever possible. The key role is to meet the needs of both the patient or facility and the nurse. The more comfortable the nurse is with the position to which she has been assigned, the easier it will be for her to perform her job. Travel nursing opens up many opportunities in the field, and for the nurse who is good at what she does, and not adverse to relocation, opportunities in other states as a staff nurse may be a thought to consider. This is a good way to feel the waters and see if you like different scenery before making the permanent decision to move to an unfamiliar place. This type of position is not for everyone, but if you like to travel and try different things, this is the kind of position you will love. Not only will you see other parts of the country, you will experience a completely different world of individuality in the new people you will meet. Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com By: Jim Johnson

At least 39,455 or 44.51% out of 88,649 examinees that took the November 2008 Nursing Board have passed, the Professional Regulatory Commission has announced. The 2008 topnotcher of the nursing board exam is Jovie Ann Alawas Decoyna of Baguio Central University. She passed the exam with a score of 89 percent. Xavier university is top among all schools, the results of which were released by the PRC Friday. Nursing Licensure Examination Results ( Feb 2009 ) http://www.boardexampassers.com/board/e/22/a/1.html

A lifestyle modification program along with metformin, a drug commonly used by type 2 diabetics to lower blood sugar level, may help teenage girls lose weight if they make changes in their diet as well, according to a study. To test its effectivity, researchers examined the effect of adding metformin versus placebo to a personal diet and exercise goal¬setting program for 85 obese adolescents with insulin resistance, 71 percent of whom were female. Researchers report in the Journal of Pediatrics that goal-setting alone did not lead to significant weight loss. However, researchers observed a significant decrease in body weight in girls receiving metformin, but not in those receiving placebo. A decrease in body mass index of more than five percent were seen in 60 percent of the particfpants who took metformin and at the same time cut back on their diet. “Current options for weight loss medications are fairly expensive and not typically covered by insurance plans,” noted Dr. Kathryn Love-Osborne of Denver Health and Hospitals in Colorado in her comments to Reuters Health. “As such, medications are not readily accessible to low-income patients who are at higher risk for obesity-related complications.” As such, researchers concluded that the availability of safe and inexpensive medications that might provide additional benefits for patients who are motivated to make modest lifestyle changes would be a welcome option for primary care providers who are working with obese teens.

The Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) recently announced that Filipino nursing graduates who passed the leakage-marred June 2006 nursing licensure examination are not eligible for a VisaScreen Certificate unless they retake parts of the exam. CGFNS requests the Philippine authorities to provide an opportunity for re-take of test 3 and 5 to all 17, 323 passers without surrender of licensure. Through taking the equivalent of these tests and obtaining a passing score, the June 2006 passers may still be issued visas to the US. VisaScreen Certificate is a requirement to apply for a nursing or related job in the US. Hence, this applies only to the US and not to other countries accepting Filipino nurses. CGFNS maintains the integrity of foreign licensing systems as it is the ultimately affects the health and safety of patients in the United States. All passers in the June 2006 nursing licensure exam had been sworn in as licensed nurses on the basis of a decision by the Philippine Court of Appeals in October last year. Charges are also filed against officials of review centers implicated in the leakage of exam materials however, the cases have not progressed so far.

The battle of the sexes may be on-even in the way both genders metabolize fructose, a simple sugar commonly used to sweeten drinks and foods. This was proven during a study conducted by Dr. Luc Tappy and colleagues from the Lausanne University School of Biology and Medicine in Switzerland. Researchers enlisted 16 healthy non-smoking male and female, about 23 years old and of normal weight, who were asked to follow two separate six-day diets separated by a four-week washout period. The men and women did not participate in any exercise or sports while following either the said “control” regimen, or the other diet which included a lemon-flavored drink containing 3.5 grams of fructose. Researchers then tested 12 fasting metabolic parameters the day after the participants completed their diets. It was found that the men participants showed significant increases in 1 1 out of the 12 fasting metabolic factors, including a five percent increase in fasting glucose and 71 percent in triglyceride levels. This may mean an increased risk for cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes. On the other hand, the women showed a four percent increase in glucose and 16 percent increase in triglyceride levels after the high fructose diet. Overall, the women showed significant increases in only four out of the 12 factors tested. The researchers noted that more studies are needed to more accurately identify gender differences in metabolic pathways and to confirm the results of their study in a larger population. Findings of the study were reported in the journal Diabetes Care.

Children and teens with type 1 diabetes who have been using insulin pumps to control their diabetes develop dermatologic complications at the infusion catheter site, according to researchers from the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. The researchers surveyed 50 patients with type 1 diabetes who had used insulin pumps for longer than six months. It was found that a vast majority (94 percent) of patients experience scars smaller than three millimeters in diameter, two-thirds had swelling, just under two thirds had lesions under the skin, and 42 percent had fat lumps under the skin. It was also found that the thinner the patient, the higher the chances of getting dermatologic complications with the insulin pump. However, there was no relationship between long¬term blood sugar control and risk of skin problems. Even with the reported incidences of skin problems, only a few parents (four percent) and patients (2.4 percent) said they would consider stopping insulin pump therapy because of the associated skin problems. The study was published in The Journal of Pediatrics.